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Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office Uses Database To ID Body

CHICAGO (CBS) — The Cook County Medical Examiner is reporting the first success in an effort to identify 20 bodies at the morgue.

Medical Examiner's Office Uses Database To ID Body

For the past several months the Medical Examiner’s office has been trying to identify remains, by putting information in the “NameUs” system, a national database where people can search for missing loved ones.

Dr. Stephen Cina, the Chief Medical Examiner, said they recently got their first hit, finding the out-of-state family of someone whose body had been at the morgue for a year.

“We’re of the attitude that even if one of our unidentified remains makes it back to their family the effort is worth it,” said Cina.

He said by the end of next week they’re expecting to have information on unidentified remains on the medical examiner’s website.